Australian captain Ricky Ponting has softened his stance on minnow nations competing in the World Cup, despite the defending champion's 203-run rout of Scotland in its opening match.
Before the tournament began Ponting had wanted cricket's second-tier nations to be excluded from the tournament because he felt they had little -- or nothing -- to offer.
He also questioned whether Scotland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Canada would learn anything from heavy defeats, but his view has changed after his team delivered the second-biggest mauling in World Cup history. "We need the game to be strong all around the world, there is no doubt about that," Ponting said.
"It wasn't that long ago that a country like Sri Lanka was in a similar position and look where they have got to. If they can take something out of today, then all's well and good for the game around the world."
Scotland captain Craig Wright claimed his team had learned much from the match and said it was crucial that smaller nations be given this chance.
"I think there were a lot of positive performances we could take out of it with the ball and in the field for the majority of their innings," Wright said.
"And obviously Colin Smith (51) would be the one who took some real positives with the bat as well.
"It's a learning experience for us going into that level of opposition. We are going to have another opportunity next week against South Africa and hopefully we can raise our game for that."
Sri Lanka participated in 1975 and '79 World Cups before gaining Test status in 1982 and winning the 1996 World Cup.
Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene said without that early taste for the game, his country would not have become a cricketing force.
"That experience was the key to us winning the '96 World Cup," Jayawardene said.
"From that point of view, playing against the top sides is the only way these nations will improve. You never know, within 20 years one of these associate members might win a World Cup.
"That is what we did. For me it is a no-brainer. This is the only way they will learn how the big boys play."
- JON PIERIK